Have entered Hawaii Ironman 70.3 just to show bipolar people can do anything :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Here's hoping I go ok :0)

[Nickeldoor]

Great to hear that! We know you can do it!!

However, scientifically BP has reactions on our physical body except we don't feel it. The greatest effect it has is on our brain. I just seen a medical seminar by a Serge guy in Douglas medical hospital held by McGill Uni. what makes us different from purely depressed patients is that BP sufferer does not get to grow back our brain neurons even with medications, however the purely depressed patients do. Hope I got the interpretation correct. If not, pls kindly advise.

Whatever it is, good luck on your journey and show us you can break the "4-min mile"! Good luck!!

[Bubulous]

Congratulations!!!!!

That is awesome.  I ran the army ten mile run in Afghanistan and didn't have the best time....1hr and 50 min, but I finished it and it was the greatest physical  feat I had ever accomplished.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hi everyone,

Finished the race, didn't drown sorry I've taken so long too respond. Yep made it, actually did it!!!!! Yay :0)

As it was my first race at this distance I purposely didnt worry about the time too much so total time was 7 hours 8 mins. I didn't stop and kept jogging the whole time.

It was a little scary the night before the race when they said at the prerace briefing there was a typhoon in the Pacific and were expecting potential 10ft waves in the swim leg. Thankfully that didn't eventuate.

So all done, next up I'm planning on doing a Marathon in October :0)

[looloo141]

WOWSER!!!  What a fantastic journey you are on, the swimming sounds amazing, I'm so jealous! LOL

I bet it felt liberating coming out about the BP, good for you!!

You are inspirational, to me and every other person suffering with ill mental health!!

Keep us posted and good luck :)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Have arrived in Hawaii, all going well. Rode the bike course two days ago, talk about hot and windy.

Did the swim leg yesterday and ran part of the run leg today. Having so much fun swimming with tropical fish and sea turtles, Awesome time!

Also this week I came out to my Tri-club back in oz about being bipolar.  Was quite scared about it, so used the club newsletter to do it. Glad I have now, not sure how everyone has reacted, guess I'll find out when I get back. :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

One week to go!!!!!!!!!!

Getting excited, flying to Hawaii tomorrow, can't wait!

This trip is going to be awesome! All trained up and ready to go :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

I'm looking forward to seeing who my real ones are though :0)

Glass half full :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Getting close now, only a few weeks away. Training is really starting to amp up! 150km ride on Saturday, 18km run on Sunday and it just keeps getting bigger!

Also have started a new job, back doing technical sales!

Will be coming out to my friends and training buddies soon about being Bipolar. A little nervous but want to do it. I hate keeping it a secret, drives me nuts!

Hopefully I don't lose too many friends.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Coach and I have noticed something new with my training, apparently I'm exercising a lot longer than my body can actually take. Coach has been trying to get me to go for shorter distances but once I get started I just don't feel tired.  The first I know something is going wrong is when something breaks. I feel like I could run twice as far as I actually do but my body is having a hard time taking it!

I am working on going shorter distances :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Had my ride, ended up going 120km on my bike which is the furthest I've ever gone! Very happy with myself.  Came home had a good long sleep and rest. Woke up with a little bit of a Sunburn but that's all.

Going  on a 12km run today, legs are a bit tired from yesterday, but should be fine. Can't wait

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hmm, tough times again, body clock is all over the place at the moment!

Went to sleep two nights ago and basically went into a coma, woke up like the dead at about 2pm. Now coming into the weekend when I need to go for a long ride I can't sleep at all until after the ride. Same thing happened last week.

Need to do at least 90km on the bike today to burn off this energy. I'm completely wide awake and it's 6am. Not a wink all night, think I might be starting to get nervous about the race.

I shouldn't I've trained for this, making a point of enjoying the fitness. I'll be ok.  Time to get my ride on :0)

[darlenedaisy]

Wow thsnks for representing bipolar in a positive light !!! Good luck in your race, you are inspiring !

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Calf is feeling better, training is starting to ramp up now into the last 9 weeks before the race. Went for a long ride up in the hills over the weekend to start getting use to the hills in the race.

[run4you]

Oh no!!! I hope your calf heals quick - that would be awful to be this close and not be able to compete. UGH.

I cracked up at your US story - 'from what I've been told'... must have been an awesome trip indeed!

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Awww nuts! Have torn my calf a little last night as I went for a run.  Looks like I'm going to miss the last race of the Gatorade Season on Sunday, hopefully it hasn't stuffed Hawaii, only 10 weeks away now!

[Flitknit]

Awesome! Good luck!

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Back training again, taking a month off to rest the body before building for the Ironman can be difficult. Particularly over the last week when I was back home, holiday was over and I just got my two dogs back in my apartment.  Great to have the dogs back but I had a hard time getting back to training and take them for a walk morning and night as well.  Not enough hours in the day.  Not training took my centering treatment away, so I started to become a bit rock n roll, could feel like I was teetering on a bit of a mental cliff. Knew I had to do something, was late for training but still went anyway just to catchup with the crew afterwards.  Used the energy within the group to help get some inspiration. Then on the weekend took the dogs for a run on the beach. Got to about 8km's before Sandy decided she'd had enough running and simply laid down. So I then did some exercises where I was to give them a rest.

Caught up again with the Triclub for brekky on the beach, soaking up a bit more inspiration. Came home, let the dogs rest as I did a cheeky strength session in the gym in my apartment complex. It's small but got enough for what I need.  Went out last night and in true bipolar form partied hard and drank far too much alcohol.  Woke up in the morning with a massive hangover, lucky for me it was swim training time.  So went to the pool and swam 2km's, jumped in feeling awful came out feeling much better.

Sure I've missed some training sessions in the past week, but I always remember what one of my tri buddies said to me when I was really down once for missing a lot of classes. They said don't ever be upset about the training you miss, be happy with the training you do.

Wise words, ever since then going to training has been much easier.

After the past few days I've managed to get my centre back and have started my build for Hawaii :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Went to Vegas, New York and LA all very rockstar!  Nothing quite matches being hypomanic in Vegas, had to put myself on a no gambling rule there for a while.

Great fun though, from what I've been told I had a fabulous time :0)

[run4you]

Awesome!!!

I just started running again, after reinjuring my ankle (less than a year after surgery to repair it... eep). I hate the beginning - it's UGLY!

I love reading your updates, keep 'em coming!

Where did you head to in the states?

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Alright sorry for the delay between posts have had a bit of a mad time of late, seperated from my wife and had to move house get re setup, also just went on a 3 week holiday to the states to let my hair down and build my confidence.

Quick update regarding the races of late, I did manage to complete the race on the blue bike and came 20th in my Age category which I was very happy with seeing it wasn't last.  Hard work on the hire bike though.

I have also since done another race 3 weeks ago just before I left, the swim was cancelled so I ended up running 2km, riding 28km and then finishing of with a 8km run.  Went ok.

Then of to the states for 3 weeks of recovery, was told not to exercise at all and have a break before starting training for Hawaii which starts again this week.  Going of the exercise was a bit difficult as it is my main treatment for managing my bipolar but managed to get through ok.

Now doing a race this weekend which I just plan on rolling around on.  Distance will be 500m Swim, 20km bike ride, 5 km run.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Doing an Olympic distance race this weekend on Sunday 1.5km swim, 40km ride, 10km run. Have decided for a laugh to use a big blue commuter hire bike which weighs 20kg for the bike leg. Should be some good fun, am going to use Can-do coconuts as drink bottles on the bike. Also going to see if I can get hold of one of those sperm shaped aero helmets to complete the look. My goal is to try and not be completely last in the race. If I can do that I'll be happy :0)

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Went for another ride today about 50km then ran off the bike for about 2km. Have decided I should try to run off the bike each time I go for a ride. I also did some foot strength exercises again. Blew another two tyres today, this is getting frustrating, I just replaced the tyres, tubes, and rim tape. Maybe I need to get myself a new set of wheel's don't need much arm twisting to pick myself up a set of Zipp's :0) Still I do need to be careful, I've just sold my house and could easily go on a spending spree. I've already spent a fair bit just getting new stuff for my new apartment. Time to pull my head in a little on the cash.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Hell Week Finished, ended up burning over 10,000 calories just with riding about 90km and a short 2-5km run each day off the bike. I don't know how many calories I burned swimming as I wasn't wearing my Garmin. Maximum's we're fun to look at though Max Heart rate 181bpm, Max Speed 61.2km/hr (I was going down a steep hill), Max Pace 58sec/km, my favourite Max Cadence 157rpm, 5 blown tires, 1 broken light but all in all great fun and I feel I really put together a good base to work from.

[BP2PROFESSIONAL]

Motivational Poster arrived it looks awesome, has a big picture of a jet fighter on it going supersonic and underneath says "Awesomeness - When I get sad, I stop being sad and be Awesome instead. True Story"

If that doesn't motivate a bipolar person I don't know what will, have framed it, think I will put it up in my new apartment I just got approved for.  It's a 1 bedroom apartment right next door to a friend of mine I'm going to Hawaii with so we should be able to do training together.  There is even a pool and gym in the complex and it is one block from the beach and where we normally set off on the long team bike rides.  A couple of others from the tri club are in the area as well so should hopefully go ok.